Returning big man Nate Jawai has blues but looks sure to start
Returning Cairns Taipans big man Nate Jawai has blues but looks sure to start in first game of the season against the Brisbane Bullets.
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OUT with the old, in with the blue.
Returning big man Nate Jawai threw down a couple of thunderous dunks at Cairns Taipans training on Thursday afternoon, but instead of his usual orange colours he was covered in navy blue.
Under the old regime at the club, starters wore orange at training while the “blue baggers” as they were dubbed for their blue uniforms, were the reserves.
That appears to have switched.
Although new coach Mike Kelly said starters were not yet confirmed, his import core, as well as key returning pair Alex Loughton and the big man from Bamaga, sported blue on Thursday in the snippet of training that was open to the media, suggesting those five may be the group that will be out there for the opening tip.
TOUGH JOB: Nate Jawai and Mitchell Young at training.
Kelly is encouraged by what he has seen of the former NBA centre Jawai.
“Nate has had a great week of training,” Kelly said.
“We did not want to push him in the Adelaide game with the tenderness in his foot.
“When he goes, he has been really good.”
The prized big man has been managed through the preseason, missing against Sydney at the Blitz, and again in Adelaide in their last hitout before the real stuff starts.
Returning forward Mitch Young gets to battle Jawai most days at practice and it takes a toll on his body.
“It has been tough,” Young said.
“I get pretty sore some days guarding him.”
Cairns play the first game of the 2018-19 NBL season on the road at Brisbane next Saturday.
Forward Lucas Walker is doubtful to play in Round 1, still recovering from his “elective” surgery on his ankle.
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Originally published as Returning big man Nate Jawai has blues but looks sure to start